The Changing American Society: Demographics and Social Stratification

1
The Changing American Society Demographics and
Social Stratification
2
Demographics

• What are they?
• Population Size and Distribution
• Occupation
• Education
• Income
• Age

3
American Generations

• Pre-Depression
• Depression
• Baby Boomers
• Generation X
• Generation Y
• Millenials

4
Pre-Depression Generation

• Born before 1930s
• AKA Mature market/seniors
• Characteristics
• Gerontographics
• Healthy indulgers
• Ailing outgoers
• Healthy hermits
• Frail recluses

5
Depression Generation

• 1930-1945
• 35 million people
• Age gracefully

6
Baby Boomers

• 1945-1964
• 80 million!!
• Characteristics
• Higher education
• Empty nest
• Physical needs
• Active retirement

7
Generation X

• 1965-1976
• Slackers/ Lost Generation
• Technology
• Increasingly important
• Less physical

8
Generation Y

• 1977-1994
• Characteristics
• Technologically advanced
• More geared toward teens

9
Millenials

• 1994-??

10
Social Stratification

• Societal Rank
• What affects it?
• Societal Class System
• Status crystallization

11
U.S. Social Structure

• Upper Class- 14
• Upper-upper class
• Lower-upper class
• Upper-middle class
• Middle Class- 70
• Middle class
• Working class
• Lower Class- 16
• Upper-Lower class
• Lower-Lower class

12
The Upper Class

• Upper-Upper Class
• Aristocratic
• Lower-Upper Class
• New rich
• Athletes
• Conspicuous consumption
• Nouveaux rich
• Upper-Middle Class
• Successful professionals and busines people

13
The Middle Class

• The Middle Class
• Majority of white collar, high-paid blue collar
• Balance current consumption and future plans
• The Working Class
• Skilled and semi-skilled blue collar workers
• Working Class Aristocrats
• Backbone of America
• A working class hero is something to be.- John
  Lennon

14
The Lower Class

• Upper-Lower Class
• Minimum wage
• Few benefits
• Usually have a high school degree or less
• Lower-Lower Class
• Government assistance
• Sin products

15
Measurement of Social Class

• Single-item Index
• Problems
• Multi-item Index
• Hollingshead Index of Social Position
• Warners Index of Status Characteristics
• Census Bureaus Index of Socioeconomic Status
• Problems